The Spread Eagle Roadworks
We’ve been asked similar questions several
times regarding the road works at the Spread
Eagle junction. These are set out below
with answers from County Council staff and
hopefully provide some useful Information:
1. Is the closure of Petticoat Lane for all of the
phases of the project (ending February 2018)?
“We are constantly reviewing the closure of
Petticoat Lane. It is mostly affected by the
Phase 1 works, which is due to finish at the
end of October – all being well. However I
cannot give certainty that this will happen. In
addition to reviewing the impact of opening
Petticoat Lane (impact on traffic flow as four
way lights will be required and impact on
programme as barriers require constant moving
and relocating), we have found a number
of problems as we have put spades into the
ground, one of which is a leaking water pipe
from a property that is directly in the footway
area of where we need to work. Anglia Water
have confirmed it is the property owner’s
responsibility to get it fixed, quite costly I am
told, and we are having the difficult negotiation
with the owner to get the pipe fixed. These
little issues end up having a big impact on
programmes, so we are working as quickly
as we can to get those issues addressed and
Petticoat Lane open as soon as possible.”
2. Will the pedestrian barriers be removed at
the Spread Eagle, as they have been at the old
double mini?
“We have proposed to remove the guard rail at
Spread Eagle, but deterrence paving will be put
into the pedestrian islands to prevent people
crossing at dangerous points. ‘Back to back’
kerbing, like that used at the Parkway/Cullum
Road pedestrian crossing, will be used at the
crossings to provide protection from vehicles.
The benefits of guard rail are debatable.
Certainly in London there have been a number
of cyclist fatalities where riders have been
caught between guard rail and vehicles. You
may be aware that this led to guard rail being
stripped from a number of locations in London.

Guard rail can also be an issue for pedestrians
if they try to take short cuts and not use the
correct crossing point – they can end up
becoming trapped in the middle of the road
with guard rail on either side leaving them nowhere to go. The removal of the guard rail also
indicates to drivers that they must drive more
cautiously, and of course we expect people to
be vigilant when crossing the road. Guard rail
would not prevent a child from running through
the crossing gap and even where guard rail
is present, parents should still approach the
crossing with caution.
There are many examples of crossings in Suffolk
near to schools that do not have guard rail
and there have not been any issues. For all of
the work we do on the highways we conduct
rigorous independent road safety audits (three
in total), the recent road safety audit did not
raise the removal of the guard rail as a concern.
We may be able to do some work with the local
school through our Road Safety Team to get the
message across to the children about the new
crossings and how they should cross the road.”
3. What measures have and can be taken
to stop traffic and emergency service
vehicles cutting through the BP Garage to
circumnavigate the Petticoat Lane closure?
“SCC has employed extra traffic marshals
to advise drivers not to drive through the
BP garage unless they need fuel. We have
positioned one marshal at one side of the
garage to deter drivers and speak to those
that flout the rules. However, the ambulance
service is required to take the shortest route to
emergencies – the police are content with that
and understand the need for the ambulance to
go through the garage. Our traffic management
team help in this situation to ensure that
any manoeuvres by ambulances and other
emergency services are carried out as safely
as possible, but this also depends heavily on
other drivers complying and behaving. I have
witnessed the traffic management marshals
doing this at Spread Eagle and it has been
working effectively and safely.”

Nowton Neighbourhood Residents Association/Southgate Community Partnership AGM
Don’t forget the AGM’s for both groups are on Thursday 9th November from 730 at the
Southgate Community Centre. These are both important local groups doing great things and
win by volunteers so please try and go along to find out more.

NOVEMBER 2017 | 11

LOCAL NEWS

NOVEMBER 2017 | 13

HOME + LIFESTYLE

All wrapped up

BY ANDREW SOUTHWOOD
Try as you might, I’m afraid

he might bring! Sometimes
bizarre, often silly, his gifts
you cannot ignore it much
are almost always small and
longer. The summer, much
amusing. He clearly puts quite
like our popularity in Europe, With 3 children it just gets
more and more complicated. a bit of time and effort into
is now a distant memory of
filling their stockings.
brighter times. Yes, Christmas For example, the financial
My wife and I don’t really buy
value of the presents must
is well and truly upon us!
presents for each other, not
be broadly speaking the
Some of you will laugh in
because we are miserable,
same. This is not for their
the face of this, smugly
timeworn, trolls (although
benefit you understand,
declaring you have done all
there may be a bit of that!),
merely to satisfy us, the
your Christmas shopping.
but because it’s just more
parents, that we have not
Meanwhile, back in the real
‘stuff’. I guess we could treat
unduly favoured one child
world, the rest of us are
each other to experience/spa
over the other. Utterly
just starting to look for that
gifts, but then it’s just a faff
perfect present. In our family ridiculous of course, as they
trying to work out when to fit
(like some adults…) have no
we have long since given up
them in, and what to do with
concept of monetary value.
on presents between adults,
Also, you’re trying to ensure the kids while you’re doing
which was always just an
exercise in consumerism and they have the same number them etc... Just not our thing
really.
of presents each. 1 main
wastefulness in the extreme.
present and 3 or 4 peripheral In short, we are extremely
We are all grown up with
kids, so we just buy for them ones say. Again, this is pretty restrained in our Christmas
shopping compared to
now, and that’s hard enough. pointless really. Once you
gather gifts from friends and many, but it is still a constant
As with all things in life,
family there’s such a huge
battle to minimise waste and
from child birth to house
mountain of them it really
maximise enjoyment over
moves, a good list is the
pales into insignificance.
the festive period. My final
key to success. By now you
random thoughts on this Then there is the great
should have started to pick
More presents and more cash
unknown.
The
plump
jolly
up random bargains you’ve
stumbled upon over the year fellow with a beard and a red splashed doesn’t automatically
coat. There is no telling what result in more smiles.
to make up half the list. That
42 | NOVEMBER 2017

just leaves the main presents
for your own kids. And so
the fun begins.

Autumn Fashion
Bardot Jumper Â£39
from M&Co
48 | NOVEMBER 2017

OFF THE SHOULDER JUMPERS
Give ‘em the cold shoulder in
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look and feel fabulous. Choose
from a variety of colours and knit
finishes in all your favourite shops
and make a statement.

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HOME + LIFESTYLE

NOVEMBER
Do you have any nearly new or unused items
that are of no use to you, other than creating
unnecessary clutter? Why not try to recycle
them and gather a few extra pounds in the
process?
Please include: Brief description of the item,
the price and your telephone number.

Please note that the publisher can take no responsibility for the claims made by sellers regarding
the goods for sale, nor are they liable for any claim with regards to the item or any payment
transactions between buyer and seller.

SOUTHGATE Community
We will be having our annual community meeting on Thursday 9th
November at 7.30pm in the Small Hall. This will be a joint meeting with the
Nowton Neighbourhood Residents’ Association. After doing some very
good work for the local community, the Association will disband unless
there are some new people prepared to come forward and take the reins.

Please come along and make you voice heard.

Valentine’s Ball 2018
It is not too early to book your tickets
for the social event of 2018. People love
experience presents for Christmas – treat
someone and they will love you forever!

BINGO Next eyes down is on Friday 17th November at 7pm for 7.30pm start!!
Southgate Opportunites Group
Our Drama group performing their latest production: we have three shows per year in we all love
dressing up and helping to paint the scenery. Every week we offer a variety of activities including
drama, dancing, arts‘n crafts, music etc. Open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10.00am until
3.00pm we are a very friendly group making everyone feel welcome. We have had a day trip to the
sea with a free Fish n Chips lunch and our annual BBQ. On December 13th at 11.00am our Drama
group will be singing a range of Christmas Carols with complimentary coffee and mince pies. Fees
are £6.50 for half day and £13.00 per day: a special introductory offer - your first day free of charge.
So please call in at Southgate Centre and meet us.